Events

Winter Cemetery Logs

Winter Burial Decoration

As seasonal decorations, winter cemetery logs are a wonderful way to honor a loved one who is no longer with you.

Many people place traditional grave blankets and pillows at the burial site for those interred underground or at the door of a mausoleum. These items can be used year after year, if desired.

If your loved one is not resting there but, instead, is in a niche or columbarium, there are other seasonal options to consider. In fact, cemetery logs are ideal containers for the dearly departed whose remains are in an urn or other remains container.

Winter Cemetery Log History

These seasonal remembrances are basically planters designed to look like yule logs which have long been a traditional winter symbol.

The burning of yule logs was a Nordic tradition that dated back to before medieval times. Originally an entire tree was placed in the home hearth and preserved remains of the prior year’s log were used to get it started. In fact the remnants would be used through the Twelve Days of Christmas.

The tradition spread all over Europe with each country using their native trees. For example, oak in England, birch in Scotland and cherry in France.

Today, they can be purchased at nurseries or at florists and, like window boxes are filled with soil and plants. If desired, you and your family could also make one of your own out of rough cut-wood shaped like a log.

We have found that it’s ideal to plant live, hardy ivy or other greens that require minimum care. But in regions where the weather is too cold it is suggested that you use evergreen branches, such as pine. You can also use artificial plants and other small ornamentation that can withstand the frosty temperatures.

Always make sure to check with the cemetery guidelines before placing a winter cemetery log.